In 2018, the St. Louis Blues made a blockbuster trade to acquire Ryan O’Reilly.
The move paid off greatly for the organization. In his first of five seasons with the Blues, O’Reilly notched career highs in goals (28) and points (77). He also helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, skating as the No. 1 center.
The Blues should have no regrets about making that deal, but if they did, it’s because of the play of former Blues first-round pick Tage Thompson.
To acquire O’Reilly, the Blues traded Patrik Berglund, Vladimir Sobotka, and Thompson, as well as a first-round pick in the 2019 NHL draft, and a second-round pick in the 2021 NHL draft, to the Buffalo Sabres.
Berglund and Sobotka amounted to nothing more than depth players for the Sabres, and the first-round pick the Sabres acquired turned into Ryan Johnson, a defenseman who has spent most of his professional career in the AHL.
But Thompson has morphed into a superstar, a true No. 1 center who won gold with Team USA at the Olympics and is centering the top line of a Stanley Cup-contending team.
Thompson played just 41 games with the Blues, scoring three goals and nine points, and while it did take Thompson a bit of time to get his feet under him at the NHL level, he’s now a consistent 40-goal scorer with a career high of 47 and a point per game player with a career high of 94 points.
On Sunday, the Sabres hosted their first playoff game in 14 years, but they found themselves down 2-0 late in the third period. That’s when Thompson introduced himself to the post-season.
The 28-year-old found a loose puck behind the Boston Bruins’ net and scored a wrap-around on his backhand to cut the Bruins’ lead in half. Just over three minutes later, Thompson won another puck battle, made a slick move to create space, and ripped a shot past Jeremy Swayman to tie the game and send the KeyBank Center into a frenzy.
A minute later, Mattias Samuelsson gave the Sabres the lead before Thompson once again won a key puck battle and sprung Alex Tuch on a breakaway with the Bruins’ net vacant.
The Sabres pulled off a miraculous comeback in Game 1 to take an early series advantage, which Thompson led.
He finished his first career playoff game with two goals, one assist, two penalty minutes, seven shots on goal, and three hits in 20:01 of ice time. He also finished with a Corsi For percentage of 59.38 percent, an expected goals percentage of 61.23 percent, and a high danger chances percentage of 60 percent at 5-on-5.
Thompson was nothing short of dominant.
Although he was once the 26th overall pick of the Blues in 2016, Thompson was the key part of a deal that helped the Blues hoist the Stanley Cup, and could help the Sabres hoist their own.
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Charlie McAvoy has been a road warrior in recent months, tallying 21 points over his last 20 away games.
While he was held off the scoresheet in Game 1, my Bruins vs. Sabres predictions see McAvoy getting back on track in this one.
Let’s dive into my NHL picks for Tuesday, April 21.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 prediction
Bruins vs Sabres best bet: Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points (-105)
Charlie McAvoy played 40.5% of Game 1, leading all skaters. The Boston Bruins didn’t generate many chances during his minutes, but score effects played a big part.
The Bruins led from the 10-minute mark of the opening period until there was less than five minutes to go in the third. Boston was trying to see their lead through, which led to a larger focus on defense.
Even if the Bruins get another lead, I don’t think they’ll be as conservative in Game 2.
McAvoy has hit the scoresheet in 20 of his last 23 games following a day of rest. Look for him to make his mark offensively.
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 same-game parlay
Morgan Geekie averaged 2.2 shots on goal and cleared this line in 65% of his games this season. The only extended lull came when Geekie was playing away from David Pastrnak.
Geekie is back on the top line and scored in Game 1, so his role on Pastrnak’s opposite wing should be solidified.
Josh Doan had two shots on goal and five attempts in Game 1, pushing his Over rate to 85% in home games against Bottom-10 shot suppression teams.
Doan earned a solid 16 minutes of ice in his first playoff game, so head coach Lindy Ruff clearly trusts him.
Bruins vs Sabres SGP
Charlie McAvoy Over 0.5 points
Morgan Geekie Over 1.5 shots on goal
Josh Doan Over 1.5 shots on goal
Bruins vs Sabres Game 2 goal scorer pick
Josh Doan (+310)
Doan was a threat in the series opener, generating five shot attempts and a couple of scoring chances on the doorstep. His expected goal output of 0.91 was actually second-highest among all skaters. Jeremy Swayman is very tough to beat from range, so it's best to target players who live in high-danger areas.
Bruins vs Sabres odds for Game 2
Moneyline: Boston +130 | Buffalo -150
Puck line: Boston +1.5 (-190) | Buffalo -1.5 (+160)
Over/Under: Over 6.5 (+120) | Under 6.5 (-140)
Bruins vs Sabres trend
Charlie McAvoy has six points over his last six games in Buffalo. Find more NHL betting trends for Bruins vs. Sabres.
How to watch Bruins vs Sabres Game 2
Location
KeyBank Center, Buffalo, NY
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN
Bruins vs Sabres latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
It wouldn’t be the Stanley Cup Playoffs without the Florida Panthers showing up on TV, right?
That is the reality that we’re living in, and people should just get used to it.
Despite the Panthers missing out on qualifying for the postseason this year due to the injury issue we’ve mentioned once or twice, fans tuning in to the opening weekend of the playoffs were treated to a new commercial featuring two of the most popular Panthers players around!
Mutual life insurance and financial services company MassMutual has done an excellent job in recent years putting out some very entertaining ads starring NHL players.
The commercial features Panthers forwards Brad Marchand and Sam Bennett, with the two providing some sound investment advice to a young autograph-seeking fan.
You can check out the video below:
For those Cats fans with sharp eyes, they may have noticed the spot took place inside Florida’s new practice facility, the Baptist Health IcePlex, in Fort Lauderdale, where it was filmed earlier this season.
Let us know in the comments what you think of the new spot, which is titled, “It’s Never Too Soon to Think About Your Future,” and where it ranks among the MassMutual hierarchy of ads featuring NHL players.
Photo caption: Dec 29, 2025; Sunrise, Florida, USA; Florida Panthers left wing Brad Marchand (63) and center Sam Bennett (9) celebrate his goal against the Washington Capitals during the third period at Amerant Bank Arena. (Jeff Romance-Imagn Images)
The Ottawa Senators can’t seem to catch a break in the injury department, particularly on their blue line.
As they prepared for Game 2 of their first-round Stanley Cup playoff series against the Carolina Hurricanes in Raleigh, NC, they learned that Tyler Kleven would not be available. It was hoped he might be ready to play in the event Artem Zub cannot.
Zub was injured in Game 1 after delivering a big hit on Carolina forward Seth Jarvis and did not return. He wasn't at practice on Monday and the Senators have described him as a game-time decision.
Steve Warne and Gregg Kennedy discuss the keys to victory in the Sens-'Canes series.
Kleven has been skating in recent days while wearing a full face shield at practice. He hasn’t played since April 2, when he took a puck to the face in a 4–1 victory over the Buffalo Sabres.
Dennis Gilbert was also rattled in Game 1 after taking a hit from behind into the boards. The initial concern was that he had aggravated the shoulder injury he suffered back in March, but he managed to stay in the game and finish.
It’s also likely that Thomas Chabot is far less than 100 percent after his early return from the forearm surgery he had last month.
If Zub cannot go on Monday night, Nikolas Matinpalo will likely move into the top four, alongside Jake Sanderson, and Lassi Thomson would likely draw back into the lineup after appearing in five games for Ottawa between April 7 and 15.
But the Senators also have the option of using their 2024 seventh-overall pick, Carter Yakemchuk, who was called up on Sunday after the Belleville Senators’ season came to a close.
Yakemchuk finished the year with 40 points in 54 games, second-best among AHL rookie defencemen. He made his NHL debut in Detroit last month, recording a goal and an assist in a big win over the Red Wings that may have marked a turning point in Ottawa’s season.
But Carolina's smothering forecheck, putting the heat on Thomas Chabot and Jordan Spence, helped lead to the only two goals in the game. So this may not be the time or place for the 20-year-old.
Yakemchuk was called up on Sunday alongside forwards Tyler Boucher, Xavier Bourgault, Graeme Clarke, Arthur Kaliyev and Oscar Pettersson, a group that will serve as the club’s black aces.
Despite the injury concern, the bigger issue at hand is scoring. After being shut out 2–0 in Game 1, generating more chances will be paramount in Game 2 against a stifling, well-coached Carolina D.
Quick update, hot off the presses: if you can't score, nothing else matters.
Game time is 7:30 p.m. TV: Sportsnet, CBC and TVAS.
Steve Warne The Hockey News
This article was first published at The Hockey News Ottawa. Check out more great Sens features from The Hockey News at the links below:
BRIDGEPORT, CT -- On Oct. 22, New York Islanders general manager Mathieu Darche relieved goaltending coach Piero Greco of his duties with Ilya Sorokin struggling out of the gate.
Darche then elevated Bridgeport Islanders goaltending coach Sergei Naumov to the NHL squad, someone who Sorokin had known quite well from their days in the KHL.
Naumov joined Bridgeport for the 2024-25 season with an NHL gig more of a when, not an if, given his experience with Sorokin.
After the goalie coach change, the Islanders said that Chris Terreri, the organization's Director of Goaltending, would take Sergei's Bridgeport responsibilities.
However, when on hand for Bridgeport's practice on Monday, I saw a familiar face working with their goaltenders: Cory Schneider.
The now 40-year-old former NHL goaltender, who finished his 13-year playing career with the Islanders before moving into media with MSG Networks and the NHL Network, has been serving as Bridgeport's goalie coach since Naumovs promotion, per the team. It's not an official title, but that's the job he's serving.
Cory Schneider is Bridgeport’s goalie coach, filling Sergei Naumovs role after Sergei was elevated to #Isles.
Terreri still holds his role with the organization.
It's not uncommon to see former Islanders players remain with the organization.
Johnny Boychuk and Dennis Seidenberg both work in player development -- so does Marty Reasoner -- with Eric Cairns the organization's Director of Player Development.
Schneider was a workhorse during his career, playing 410 regular-season games, going 171-159-58, with a 2.43 GAA and a .918 SV%. He also knows what it takes to reach the NHL level and stick, and what it's like to overcome a major injury — hip surgery — to get back to living the dream.
Schneider had to wait 758 days before getting back to the NHL, playing his first and final game with the Islanders, the final game of his career, stopping 24 of 27 in a 4-3 win over his former team, the New Jersey Devils, on Apr. 3, 2022.
It must have been a cool experience for Schneider to be on the ice with Islanders goaltender Semyon Varlamov, who is working his way back from two knee procedures.
Bridgeport has veteran backstop, Marcus Hogberg, along with youngsters Henrik Tikkanen and Josh Kotai. There's no question that Schneider will have a positive impact on their development, regardless of how long he holds this position.
The Buffalo Sabres seemed stymied by the Boston Bruins defensive game plan in Game 1 of their first-round series for two-and-a-half periods, but with time running out, the Sabres urgency increased, the Bruins retreated into a defensive shell around goalie Jeremy Swayman, and that allowed Buffalo to wrest control of the game. Tage Thompson tied the game on a pair of tallies, Mattias Samuelsson put the Sabres into the lead, and Alex Tuch scored the game-winner into an empty net, all within 6:46 in a 4-3 victory at KeyBank Center on Sunday night.
The crowd was extremely loud and boisterous even during warmups for the first playoff game in 15 years, and the rafters shook with a deafening crescendo of cheers during the Sabres late rally. Less than 24 hours later, the club did not practice and is attempting to maintain their level of excitement, while at the same time trying to stay composed.
"We met this morning, and we went through the game and areas we thought we're pretty good at and a couple areas we'd like to improve. (We) talked about putting this game away and moving on to the next one, knowing that it's a desperate situation for (Boston), Sabres head coach Lindy Ruff said. "No team really wants to go down two games to none, and we'd like to put them in that situation."
The Bruins played the game they need to play to beat a more offensively talented Buffalo squad, positionally disciplined defensively, and relying on goalie Jeremy Swayman to make the big saves. That was the case through two periods, as the Sabres outshot Boston 27-13. The Bruins failed to take advantage of some early shakiness from Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen in his first playoff start, and failed on some of their best scoring chances, as David Pastrnak was stymied by UPL on two breakaways.
“We understand how they play. They've had a lot of success with it. We understand how we play," Ruff said. "I thought maybe the first two periods, we were just a little bit slow getting there, but we really want to focus on our game. We know what the strength of their game is, and they know what the strength of ours is. And we feel that the longer we can stay with our game, the better the chances we can win a hockey game."
Kings interim coach D.J. Smith, top, talks with right winger Alex Laferriere (14) during Game 1 against the Colorado Avalanche on Sunday. (Jack Dempsey / Associated Press)
As a kid growing up in Windsor, Canada, just across the river from Detroit, D.J. Smith would look forward to the Stanley Cup playoffs the way other kids looked forward to Christmas.
“It's special as a kid growing up, just watching that first game of the NHL playoffs,” he said. “As a Red Wings fan, me and my brother [would] get it on Channel 50 back home, watch [Steve] Yzerman and the boys and it was exciting.”
Now Smith is coaching in those same playoffs after guiding the Kings on a mad dash to a wild-card berth. And while the games haven’t lost that special feeling they had when he was a kid, now they’re all business.
“To be up here is special,” he said. “But you’ve got to turn the page on that. I’ve got a job to do.”
He did that job well in Game 1 of the Kings’ opening-round series with the Colorado Avalanche, pushing the NHL’s best team to the final horn in a 2-1 loss. The Kings have a chance to even the series Tuesday before returning to Crypto.com Arena for Game 3 on Thursday and Game 4 on Sunday.
Sunday’s game wasn’t the first time Smith stood behind the bench in a Stanley Cup playoff game. As an assistant, he coached the Maple Leafs in the postseason three times and he was also an assistant on Jim Hiller’s staff last spring when the Kings reached the playoffs.
None of those teams made it past the first round, but Smith said he learned a lot from the experience.
“You’ve got to slow it down in your mind. Things happen quick,” he said. “Big moments happen quick. Decisions have to be made quick. But they have to be made calmly. And the players need to know you're under control at all times.
“We know the task at hand. We have [a] game plan and then I’ve got to continue to make tweaks to it to give us the best chance to win.”
The game plan worked well enough in Game 1, where a mishandled puck led to Logan O’Connor’s breakaway goal early in the third period, a score that proved to be the difference. The Kings held the highest-scoring team in the NHL to just two goals, held the highest-scoring line in the league to just one point and won the battle of the special teams.
“We fall short. But there's a lot of good things,” Smith said after Sunday’s loss.
He hadn’t even left Ball Arena before beginning work on the tweaks for Game 2.
“I think we could be on the net more. We’ve got to be more physical. We’ve got to hit their [defense] more. And I expect that in the next game.”
There could also be a roster change if Smith decides to have Andrei Kuzmenko, a good puck-handler and offensive-zone presence, dress for the first time since undergoing surgery to repair torn meniscus in late April.
“In order to beat this team, we’re going to have to be better than good,” Smith said Monday. “We need more zone time. We have to hold on to pucks. We can forecheck harder. We have to do a better job of creating.”
If being a head coach in the Stanley Cup playoffs is a dream come true for Smith, a hockey lifer, it may be a bittersweet one. He got the opportunity only after Hiller, a friend and colleague in Toronto, was fired with 23 games left in the regular season, but he made the most of it, guiding the Kings to points in 17 of their final 24 games to climb over two teams and into the postseason.
Smith, 48, was a head coach for parts of five seasons in Ottawa, where he posted just one winning record and never made the playoffs. However, that previous head coaching experience was one reason he was brought to Los Angeles as the Kings’ top assistant in 2024 since it made him an ideal fallback candidate should Hiller falter.
When Hiller did, general manager Ken Holland promoted his understudy.
“I made the decision because I feel like our team hasn’t played consistent enough. We’ve underperformed,” Holland, who hoped the move would jolt the team, said at the time of the change.
And it worked. Under Smith, the Kings have played with added aggression and urgency and have become far more physical.
“Once Smithy came in, he just changed the energy a little bit and we’re trying to be a little more aggressive versus sitting back,” captain Anze Kopitar said.
They’ve also bonded.
“We’ve really come together as a group,” forward Quinton Byfield said.
Now the challenge becomes doing something no Kings coach has done in more than a decade: getting the team past the first round of the postseason. If Smith can do that he might lose the interim tag in his title, which would make these Stanley Cup playoffs really special.
Apr 19, 2026; Tampa, Florida, USA; Montreal Canadiens defenseman Kaiden Guhle (21) shoves Tampa Bay Lightning forward Zemgas Girgensons (28) into the boards during the third period in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Benchmark International Arena. Mandatory Credit: Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
Morgan Tencza/Morgan Tencza-Imagn Images
TAMPA, Fla. — Behind a loud, energetic, sellout crowd chanting “Let’s Go Bolts!” from Thunder Alley into the arena, the Tampa Bay Lightning should have a clear home-ice advantage.
Not in the playoffs.
A 4-3 overtime loss to the Montreal Canadiens in Game 1 was the Lightning’s 10th loss in 11 games at home in the postseason, going back to Games 4 and 6 in the 2022 Stanley Cup Final against Colorado.
They can’t afford to fall behind 2-0 in the best-of-seven, opening-round series.
The Lightning have been knocked out of the playoffs in the first round three straight years since the Avalanche prevented them from a three-peat four years ago.
“We believe in this group here. It’s a different team every year,” forward Anthony Cirelli said. “That’s not in our mind at all. We have to go win a hockey game. That’s what it comes down to. Our energy level has to be up, our emotion has to be up. We have to be ready to go from the first 60-plus and have the urgency to win the game.”
Juraj Slafkovsky scored three power-play goals for the Canadiens in the opener. Lightning coach Jon Cooper wasn’t happy with his team’s penalty-killing unit and the players who put them in position to be short-handed. He called the penalties “stupidity.”
Tampa Bay was the most penalized team in the NHL in the regular season with 425. The Lightning had 14 penalty minutes and the Canadiens converted three times in five opportunities with the man advantage.
“The big one is staying out of the penalty box,” Cirelli said. “Our PK has to be better. They have a really good power play. We have to limit our penalties.”
And, they’ve got to play better on special teams.
“If you’re going to kill penalties off at 50%, then you’re probably not going to last very long,” Cooper said. “But if you kill penalties off at 50% and you only give up two (penalties), well, maybe you can survive.”
The good news for the Lightning is an 8-5 all-time record in playoff series that begin with a home loss. They are 13-8 in Game 2s at home.
The Lightning will need Andrei Vasilevskiy to play more like the dominant goaltender they’re used to having. He wasn’t sharp against the Canadiens in the opener, allowing four goals on 19 shots.
In a series that features potential Hall of Famers like Vasilevskiy and Nikita Kucherov, Montreal’s Slafkovsky was the difference maker in Game 1.
Slafkovsky, who had four goals and four assists in six games for Slovakia in the Milan Cortina Olympics, has built off that success. After finishing with 30 goals in the regular season, he became the third-youngest Canadiens player to record a hat trick in the playoffs.
“The evolution of Slaf, I think, is almost the same as the evolution of our team,” Canadiens coach Martin St. Louis said. “We know what he’s capable of bringing Slaf, and that’s what he did. He played to his identity. Not just the goals — he was physical, he won battles. It was a big game for him.”
The day is finally here. After eight years, the Ducks are back in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Their opponent, the battle-tested Edmonton Oilers, have finished the previous two seasons as the Stanley Cup Final runner-up.
"You look at the regular season, it's a big grind," Oilers defenseman Mattias Ekholm said. It's long, especially when you have two deep (playoff) runs in recent history. It's hard to get up for every game, I'm not gonna lie. But this time of year, everybody, you've got to do everything. You've got to get yourself geared up and get going here."
"It's the best time of year," Oilers forward Zach Hyman said. "This is the time you want to play in. It's a long season, and we've had a lot of experience in the playoffs, so it's nice to be back."
Mar 28, 2026; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Edmonton Oilers forward Zach Hyman (18) trips up Anaheim Ducks defensemen Jackson LaCombe (2) during the third period at Rogers Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-Imagn Images
The Ducks and Oilers finished the season one point apart in the standings, with the latter taking advantage of the former's slump in the final 10 games of the regular season (2-6-2) to close the gap and grab home ice.
"Yeah, absolutely," Ducks forward Beckett Sennecke said on being able to turn the page and get off to a fresh start in the playoffs. "A lot of us, this is our first playoff game, so we're all super excited. This is something we've been looking forward to for a long time."
A majority of Anaheim's roster has never played in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. None of their top-5 points leaders this season has ever played in an NHL playoff game before, though Chris Kreider (sixth) and Mikael Granlund (seventh) have a combined 200 games of NHL playoff experience between them.
Another player on the Ducks roster with plenty of playoff experience is captain Radko Gudas, who has played in 57 playoff games. His last playoff appearance was in 2023 with the Florida Panthers, when they lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in the Stanley Cup Final.
"Very exciting," Gudas said. "This is the goal we set for ourselves at the start of the season. We're excited to get a few games in, a lot of firsts for a lot of our guys. Just a lot of excitement in the room. Looking forward to hard work ahead of us."
Apr 7, 2025; Anaheim, California, USA; Edmonton Oilers center Ryan Nugent-Hopkins (93) moves the puck against Anaheim Ducks defenseman Radko Gudas (7) during the third period at Honda Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images
"They say the first round's always the hardest," Ducks forward Ryan Poehling said. "It's just the physicality, the energy. Everyone's ready to go. You've got that big bump in energy. So I think that's the biggest thing, just being prepared mentally and just meeting it head-on, being the aggressor. You don't want them to come at you, you want to go with them and get lost in the moment."
"They said (to) just kind of try and weather the storm in the first five minutes," Sennecke said. "Everyone's super excited, especially in Game 1. And then get physical. Every little detail, they said, can change a game, can change a series, so it's just making sure that you're playing 100% and managing the puck properly."
"If you want to win, you've got to play without the puck," Ducks head coach Joel Quenneville said. "You've got to check and you've got to make sure that you prioritize that, especially against a team that can score and has a lethal power play. So, let's go make sure we avoid taking unnecessary or careless penalties. But, we've got to play well with the puck as well and manage it as best we can, too."
Leon Draisaitl and Jason Dickinson are expected to return to the lineup for Edmonton. Draisaitl missed the final month of the regular season due to a lower-body injury, while Dickinson missed the final three games of the regular season due to a leg injury.
Troy Terry was absent from Anaheim's morning skate, but Quenneville confirmed that Terry will be in the lineup for Game 1.
Ducks Projected Lines
Chris Kreider - Leo Carlsson - Troy Terry Alex Killorn - Mikael Granlund - Beckett Sennecke Mason McTavish - Ryan Poehling - Cutter Gauthier Jeff Viel - Tim Washe - Ian Moore
Jackson LaCombe - Jacob Trouba Pavel Mintyukov - John Carlson Tyson Hinds - Radko Gudas
Lukáš Dostál (confirmed)
Oilers Projected Lines
Matt Savoie - Connor McDavid - Zach Hyman Vasily Podkolzin - Leon Draisaitl - Kasperi Kapanen Ryan Nugent-Hopkins - Jason Dickinson - Jack Roslovic Colton Dach - Adam Henrique - Trent Frederic
The Montreal Canadiens are back in action against the Tampa Bay Lightning on Tuesday, April 21. Game 1 was a dramatic overtime thriller, and the Habs will look to take a commanding 2-0 series lead back to Bell Centre.
My Canadiens vs. Lightning predictions and NHL picks suggest another hard-fought nail-biter between two of the East's top teams, with Lane Hutson (among many other young Habs players) making his mark on the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 2 prediction
Canadiens vs Lightning best bet: Lane Hutson Over 0.5 points (-160)
Montreal Canadiens defenseman Lane Hutson inserted himself into Norris Trophy conversation in just his second NHL season, notching an astounding 78 points.
The 22-year-old picked up an assist on Juraj Slafkovsky's overtime winner in Game 1, giving him six points in six career playoff games. He quarterbacks what looks like a deadly, game-breaking top power-play unit in Montreal.
Look for Hutson to weave through a Tampa Bay Lightning defense and pick up an apple as he so often does.
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 2 same-game parlay
A few key defensemen were relied upon heavily in Game 1, given the absence of Noah Dobson on the Habs' blue line. Among them was Kaiden Guhle, playing over 21 minutes despite sitting out for a four-minute high-sticking penalty.
He only blocked one shot on Sunday, but barring another controversial double-minor penalty call, he'll have a fantastic opportunity to wear a few more at Benchmark International Arena on Tuesday.
Montreal has put up three or more goals in three of the last four games against Tampa, and was the second-highest scoring team on the road this season. They had eight high-danger chances at 5-on-5 compared to Tampa's one, and led 15-6 at all strengths.
Canadiens vs Lightning SGP
Lane Hutson Over 0.5 points
Kaiden Guhle Over 1.5 blocked shots
Montreal team total Over 2.5
Canadiens vs Lightning Game 2 goal scorer pick
Alex Newhook (+405)
Alex Newhook often gets overshadowed among the myriad of fast, young Habs forwards. While he has just one goal in his last eight games, he's occupying the 2C role, and he'll remain a scoring threat playing alongside a premier playmaker like Ivan Demidov.
He had a solid high-danger scoring chance in the first period of Game 1, stemming from a cheeky setup by Demidov.
Montreal has won three straight against Tampa Bay. Find more NHL betting trends for Canadiens vs. Lightning.
How to watch Canadiens vs Lightning Game 2
Location
Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, FL
Date
Tuesday, April 21, 2026
Puck drop
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
ESPN2
Canadiens vs Lightning latest injuries
Odds are correct at the time of publishing and are subject to change. Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
The Philadelphia Flyers proved in a 3-2 Game 1 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins that experience in the Stanley Cup playoffs can sometimes be overrated.
On Monday, the Flyers added two black aces to the fold, bringing up defensemen Oliver Bonk and David Jiricek from the AHL Lehigh Valley Phantoms, whose season ended without a playoff berth.
They join No. 3 goalie Aleksei Kolosov as the other black aces on the Flyers' roster, though, unlike Kolosov, they have a much clearer path to making an impact.
In Saturday's win against the Penguins, defenseman Emil Andrae played just 9:39, notably not playing even a second on the power play nor the penalty kill.
Andrae's defense partner, Nick Seeler, was limited to just 14:04, including 2:07 on the penalty kill.
Analytically, Andrae, 24, has been excellent this season, but it's clear that head coach Rick Tocchet doesn't yet trust him in an expanded role, which is only exacerbated in the higher-stakes playoffs.
That may open the door to an opportunity for Bonk or Jiricek--the latter in particular--to come into the lineup and contribute on the power play.
By inserting Jiricek, who played 19:37 alongside Seeler in a 4-2 win over the Montreal Canadiens in the regular season finale, the Flyers can still have their desired right-shot point man on the power play while preserving someone like Rasmus Ristolainen or Jamie Drysdale for more important minutes at 5-on-5 or on the penalty kill.
The 6-foot-4 Czech defender shouldn't have any issues handling the physicality of the series, either; the Flyers and Penguins combined for 80 hits on Saturday night.
Jiricek has 85 games of NHL experience and produced 13 points in 15 games with the Phantoms, so he isn't walking into a potential opportunity cold or blind.
It would be a surprise if the Flyers changed their winning lineup from Game 1, but it should be acknowledged that there is a very real chance we see Jiricek or Bonk play for the Flyers at some point in the Stanley Cup playoffs.
The Ottawa Senators will look to even their opening-round series with the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 2 at Lenovo Center tonight.
My top Senators vs. Hurricanes predictions and NHL picks are calling for Ottawa goalie Linus Ullmark to turn in another solid showing in the crease.
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 2 prediction
Who will win Senators vs Hurricanes Game 2?
Hurricanes: Carolina controlled the play through two periods of Game 1, and while there was a late push from Ottawa, the Sens finished with just 1.31 expected goals and five high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5. The Hurricanes also finished with an overall 63.5 expected goals percentage during the 2-0 win, so the score was actually closer than the play on the ice.
Senators vs Hurricanes best bet: Linus Ullmark Over 25.5 saves (-115)
Ottawa Senators No. 1 Linus Ullmark was the real deal in Game 1 with a .931 SV% and 2.94 goals saved above expected, and I’m expecting him to face plenty of shots again tonight.
The Carolina Hurricanes paced the NHL Corsi For percentage at 5-on-5 while averaging a second-ranked 32.2 shots per game during the regular season, and those numbers both climbed on home ice.
Of course, Ullmark also finished the regular season strong with a .912 SV% and 7.29 GSAx across his final nine starts.
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 2 same-game parlay
The Ottawa top line wasn’t completely overwhelmed in the series opener with a 50.0% CF% at 5-on-5, and center Tim Stutzle was on the ice for a team-high 1.97 expected goals, with wingers Drake Batherson (1.85) and Claude Giroux (1.17) checking in just below.
So, with the trio clicking for 4.12 goals and 3.91 expected goals per 60 minutes during the regular season, Stutzle, Batherson and Giroux are positioned to cash in in Game 2.
Senators vs Hurricanes SGP
Tim Stutzle Over 0.5 points
Drake Batherson Over 0.5 points
Claude Giroux Over 0.5 points
Senators vs Hurricanes Game 2 goal scorer pick
Andrei Svechnikov (+165)
Andrei Svechnikov was a force in the opener and finished with a game-high 1.54 individual expected goals.
With the Carolina top line piling up chances at 5-on-5, and Svechnikov a primary shooter on the No. 1 power-play unit, the underrated Russian should have plenty of quality chances again tonight with Ottawa taking the eighth-most minor penalties at 5-on-5 during the regular season, and five more during Game 1.
The Hurricanes have won 17 of their last 20 home games for +9.70 units and a 25% ROI. Find more NHL betting trends for Senators vs. Hurricanes.
How to watch Senators vs Hurricanes Game 2
Location
Lenovo Center, Raleigh, NC
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
Puck drop
7:30 p.m. ET
TV
FDSN-South, CBC
Senators vs Hurricanes latest injuries
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Apr 19, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; Buffalo Sabres right wing Alex Tuch (89) celebrates his goal with teammates during the third period against the Boston Bruins in game one of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Timothy T. Ludwig/Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
BUFFALO, N.Y. — Tage Thompson and the Buffalo Sabres entered their first-round series against Boston being questioned over their lack of playoff experience.
Turns out, they needed just over 52 minutes of game time to get the hang of it.
Drawing upon the never-quit identity the team forged in vaulting from last place in the Eastern Conference standings in early December to winning its first Atlantic Division title, the Sabres marked their return to the playoffs after a NHL-record 14-season drought with a big bang.
Thompson scored twice as part of Buffalo’s four-goal surge over the final 7:58 of regulation in rallying the Sabres to a 4-3 victory in Game 1.
“I think eight years of adversity is enough experience to get you ready for something like this,” said Thompson, referring to the frustrations of spending his first seven seasons in Buffalo without a playoff berth.
“There’s just a heightened feeling of hunger. You don’t want to let this opportunity slip,” added Thompson, who led the team with 40 goals. “I thought tonight was really important to make a statement and set our standard.”
Game 2 is in Buffalo.
Sabres finally wear down Bruins
It took two-plus periods for the Sabres to finally wear down the Bruins in an outing Buffalo dominated the offensive attack but had nothing tangible to show for it in trailing 2-0 after Elias Lindholm converted a rebound 68 seconds into the third period.
The script finally flipped with Buffalo’s forecheck causing two turnovers in Boston’s zone to set up Thompson’s two goals, scored 3:42 apart to tie the game at 2 with 4:16 left in regulation.
Mattias Samuelsson scored 52 seconds later, and Alex Tuch sealed the victory with an empty-net goal, before Boston’s David Pastrnak scored with seven seconds left.
“I told them right after the game, ‘You want experience? You got it now,’” said Lindy Ruff in the second year of his second stint coaching the Sabres. “I mean, what an experience. If you’re going to say this was my first playoff game, you’ve got a great story to tell.”
The Sabres went 5,473 days between playoff games since losing Game 7 of a 2011 first-round series to Philadelphia.
In their first game back, the Sabres became the NHL’s eighth team to rally from a two-or-more goal deficit in the final 10 minutes and win in regulation. And it marked just the second time Buffalo won a playoff game when trailing by two in the third period.
The other time was also against Boston, on Brad May’s first-round series-clinching overtime goal in a 6-5 win in 1993. The outing is celebrated in Buffalo as the “May Day!” game in clinching the Sabres’ first playoff series win in a decade, and coined by late Hall of Fame broadcaster Rick Jeanneret.
Sabres honor late broadcaster
Chillingly, the Sabres honored Jeanneret, who died in 2023, by having his wife Sandra bang the drum and lead the pregame “Let’s go, Buffalo!” chants. And his family was in the press box, where Jeanneret was honored by having a large frame, featuring his familiar sweater, hung next to the broadcast booth.
Some of the loudest pregame cheers came when fans were shown on the Jumbotron holding up signs honoring the broadcaster nicknamed “RJ.”
The festively charged atmosphere, however, turned to grumbles midway through the third period before Thompson scored. The crowd didn’t let up until well after the game ended.
“It was probably the loudest I’ve ever heard in my life,” goalie Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen said. “The fans are the ones who have waited so long. And so I’m really happy that we grinded out a win tonight.”
Bruins coach Marco Sturm wasn’t sure what happened.
“I thought we were in the perfect spot,” Sturm said. “Obviously, with the crowd behind them, they got some life and the game is done. Very unfortunate because my guys played really well. Really well. But that’s playoffs.”
Sturm caused a stir by suggesting the Bruins were bigger and stronger than Buffalo.
What he didn’t count on was the Sabres having the energy to out-last his team.
“I think as a group, we thought we could crack them and roll from there,” Samuelsson said, before noting how it took 31 shots to finally getting one past goalie Jeremy Swayman.
“It’s just death by 1,000 cuts,” Samuelsson said. “You just keep wearing on him, wearing on him until you finally crack him. And we did.”
The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are officially underway. While the Vancouver Canucks will not be taking part in the post-season — unsurprisingly — there are quite a few former Canucks who will look to make their mark as they pursue the Stanley Cup with their current teams. Here are the former Canucks taking part in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
Lindholm is one of four former Canucks who now play for the Boston Bruins. Having signed with the Bruins in free-agency after his 26 regular-season games with the Canucks in 2023–24, Lindholm appears to have found his footing with Boston. The centre put up 17 goals and 31 assists in 69 games with the Bruins this season, eclipsing his total from the year prior in 13 less games.
A Canuck for less than 30 regular season games, Lindholm put up six goals and six assists with Vancouver but was sidelined for parts of his stint due to injury. Where he really turned things up was in the post-season, during which he scored five goals and five assists in 13 games. This was Lindholm’s most recent playoff experience, predated by three separate runs with the Calgary Flames in 2018–19, 2019–20, and 2021–22.
Lukas Reichel, Boston Bruins
Reichel’s tenure with the Canucks was an interesting one. The forward was acquired back in October, sent down to Abbotsford full-time by mid-December, and moved to the Bruins at the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline for a sixth-round pick. While he has yet to play for them in the post-season, he did end up skating with Boston in 10 regular-season games, scoring a goal and two assists in this span of time.
Though whether he plays during playoffs or not is currently unknown, Reichel is currently on Boston’s roster. In his time with their AHL affiliate, the Providence Bruins, he scored a goal and five assists in four games.
Nikita Zadorov, Boston Bruins
Zadorov, a fan favourite in his 54 regular-season games with the Canucks, tied a career-high in points this season with 22 in 81 games. The defenceman has hit this plateau two other times in his career — last season with the Bruins and in 2021–22 with the Flames. He did, however, register a different career-high this season by logging 152 penalty minutes.
Like his current Bruins teammate and former Canucks and Flames teammate Lindholm, Zadorov’s last playoff appearance came with Vancouver in 2023–24. Not only did the defenceman step up physically with his trademark big hits, he also stepped-up offensively, scoring four goals and four assists in 13 games.
Joining Pearson in Buffalo’s quest for a Stanley Cup is none-other than Schenn. Schenn and Pearson were teammates for nearly three seasons in Vancouver, though they did not compete in the post-season together as members of the Canucks. They did, however, both take part in playoffs as members of the Kings back in 2015–16. Both Schenn and Pearson were also traded from the Winnipeg Jets to the Sabres this season.
An 18-year veteran of the NHL, Schenn has participated in seven post-seasons throughout his career. His most notable are the two he spent with the Tampa Bay Lightning, during which he won the Stanley Cup back-to-back. Along with the Jets, Kings, and the Lightning, he has also represented the Philadelphia Flyers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Nashville Predators in the playoffs.
Tanner Pearson, Buffalo Sabres
This year’s playoffs will mark the seventh post-season run Pearson has been on throughout his NHL career, though it will be his first with the Buffalo Sabres as he was traded to the team during the 2026 NHL Trade Deadline. The former Canuck won the Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2013–14 and will look to help the Sabres accomplish this feat for the first time in their franchise’s history.
During his time with Vancouver, Pearson and the Canucks made the post-season once — in 2019–20. The forward put up four goals and four assists in 17 games while facing the Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, and Vegas Golden Knights.
Mar 27, 2026; Buffalo, New York, USA; aBuffalo Sabres left wing Tanner Pearson (70) during a stoppage in play against the Detroit Red Wings at KeyBank Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images
Chatfield has found ample success with the Carolina Hurricanes since leaving Vancouver back in 2021. The defenceman has carved himself out a full-time NHL spot on Carolina’s blueline, even playing in over 70 games each season since 2022–23. Though he was a part of the Canucks organization from 2017 to 2021, Chatfield only ended up playing in 18 NHL games for Vancouver during the 2020–21 season.
Chatfield has joined the Hurricanes for three of their post-season runs since becoming part of the organization, with their most recent being last season’s trip to the Eastern Conference Finals. The defenceman suffered an injury during this run, however, resulting in him only playing in nine games and scoring one goal.
Former Canuck Noah Juulsen joins former Canucks Head Coach Rick Tocchet and the Philadelphia Flyers in the playoffs in their first season with the team. Though he didn’t play in every game with the Flyers this season, Juulsen did post a goal and nine assists in 52 games for Philadelphia, marking a new career-high in points and assists for the defenceman.
Juulsen’s lone post-season experience comes from Vancouver’s 2023–24 playoff run, during which he skated in two games. He has yet to suit-up for the Flyers through the current post-season, though Philadelphia has only played in one game thus far.
One year after backstopping Abbotsford to their first Calder Cup in franchise history, Šilovs will look to help his new NHL club, the Pittsburgh Penguins, make some noise during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. Šilovs’ history of clutch performances runs deep, with the goaltender having been named Playoff MVP in last year’s Calder Cup run with five shutouts as well as going 7–3–0 to help Latvia win their first-ever medal at the 2023 IIHF World Championship.
This is, of course, not Šilovs’ first time taking part in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The goaltender played hero for the Canucks in 2024 when both Thatcher Demko and Casey DeSmith were unavailable, bringing Vancouver to Game 7 of the Pacific Division Finals. When Vancouver eyed a first-round series-clinching win, Šilovs delivered by stopping all 28 shots he faced.
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Sabres Managing Excitement After Comeback Win With “One Game At A Time” Approach Buffalo scores four goals in the last 10 minutes of the third period to win Game 1 vs. Boston
The Sabres First Home Playoff Game Absolutely Lived Up To The Hype In Win Over BruinsAfter a fifteen-year wait, the Buffalo Sabres made NHL history with a four-goal third-period explosion to stun the Bruins and ignite a city-wide frenzy.
